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![Show Contents]() Gowin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Gowin surname derives from the Irish Gaelic name Mac an Ghabhain, which means "son of the blacksmith." As such, the name was probably originally occupational. It has often appeared in its Anglicized form Smith. Early Origins of the Gowin familyThe surname Gowin was first found in County Cavan, where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity. The Irish name MacGowan (not to be confused with the Scottish, which roots from MacGoun) is most often hidden under the ubiquitous name Smith. In Irish, the name is Mac an Ghabhain, which means 'son of the blacksmith'; thus its translation to Smith. In England, Horsington Manor in Somerset was owned by the Gowens family from sometime in the 1500s through 1653 when it was sold. Early History of the Gowin familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gowin research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1659 is included under the topic Early Gowin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gowin Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Smith, MacGowan, McGowan, MacGowin, McGowin, MacGowen, McGowen, Gow, Gowan, Gowen, Gowin, MacGavin and many more. Early Notables of the Gowin familyMore information is included under the topic Early Gowin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gowin RankingIn the United States, the name Gowin is the 15,500th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
 Gowin migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Gowin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Danl Gowin, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Gowin (post 1700) | + |
- Lester M. Gowin, American Republican politician, Mayor of Middletown, Connecticut, 1975 3
- Gowin Knight (1713-1772), English "man of science," the first principle librarian of the British Museum from Corringham, Lincolnshire
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Tenebras expellit et hostes
Motto Translation: He drives forth the darkness and the foe.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Gowin migration to the United States 
Ireland
Scotland
England
